UNC-Asheville coach Biedenbach joins Peterson's staff

Published: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 6:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 6:14 p.m.

Buzz Peterson’s dad told him he'd never pry Eddie Biedenbach away from his job as UNC-Asheville men’s basketball coach. That made Peterson pursue him even harder over the last week. On Tuesday, he landed the veteran coach he coveted to assist him on the UNCW bench next season.

In a surprising move, Biedenbach stepped down after 17 seasons as the head man at UNCA, where he led the Bulldogs to the Big South Championship in 2003, 2011 and 2012, to become a UNCW assistant. Peterson is a native of Asheville, and has known Biedenbach since the mid-1980s. Peterson’s dad is a supporter of the UNCA program.

“I’m excited,” Peterson said. “He can help us on both sides of the floor. In talking to other coaches in the Big South and the coaches he’s worked for, they said that kids loved playing for him and that his teams always played hard. Eddie has a lot of energy and fits the mold for what I wanted in that position.”

The Seahawks have suffered three losing seasons under Peterson, including back-to-back 20-loss records, although they nipped UNCA 67-59 in the season opener. Peterson believes Biedenbach can help the Seahawks with game strategy, player development and scheduling.

UNCA finished fifth in the Big South in defensive efficiency in 2012-13, allowing 0.99 points per possession. UNCW ranked ninth or worse in CAA defensive efficiency in each of Peterson’s three seasons.

“He also has some ties in recruiting,” Peterson said, “and he’s well respected in this area.

UNCW and UNCA are scheduled to play a game in Asheville in the 2013-14 season.

Biedenbach, 67, owns a house at Wrightsville Beach and is close friends with UNCW athletic director Jimmy Bass. A former first-team All-ACC guard at N.C. State, he compiled a 256-259 overall record at UNCA, but was 158-104 in Big South action and won at least 10 league games the last six seasons. He previously served as an assistant at Georgia and N.C. State, in addition to a brief stint as head coach at Davidson. He did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone.

Peterson and Biedenbach have known each other since the mid-1980s and Biedenbach replaced Peterson on Les Robinson’s staff at N.C. State in the early 1990s.

Peterson still has two openings on his staff, one assistant spot and the director of basketball operations. He leaves for the Final Four in Atlanta on Thursday, and said he plans to meet with candidates for both spots over the weekend.

<p>Buzz Peterson's dad told him he'd never pry Eddie Biedenbach away from his job as UNC-Asheville men's basketball coach. That made Peterson pursue him even harder over the last week. On Tuesday, he landed the veteran coach he coveted to assist him on the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a> bench next season.</p><p>In a surprising move, Biedenbach stepped down after 17 seasons as the head man at UNCA, where he led the Bulldogs to the Big South Championship in 2003, 2011 and 2012, to become a UNCW assistant. Peterson is a native of Asheville, and has known Biedenbach since the mid-1980s. Peterson's dad is a supporter of the UNCA program.</p><p>“I'm excited,” Peterson said. “He can help us on both sides of the floor. In talking to other coaches in the Big South and the coaches he's worked for, they said that kids loved playing for him and that his teams always played hard. Eddie has a lot of energy and fits the mold for what I wanted in that position.”</p><p>The Seahawks have suffered three losing seasons under Peterson, including back-to-back 20-loss records, although they nipped UNCA 67-59 in the season opener. Peterson believes Biedenbach can help the Seahawks with game strategy, player development and scheduling.</p><p>UNCA finished fifth in the Big South in defensive efficiency in 2012-13, allowing 0.99 points per possession. UNCW ranked ninth or worse in CAA defensive efficiency in each of Peterson's three seasons.</p><p>“He also has some ties in recruiting,” Peterson said, “and he's well respected in this area.</p><p>UNCW and UNCA are scheduled to play a game in Asheville in the 2013-14 season.</p><p>Biedenbach, 67, owns a house at Wrightsville Beach and is close friends with UNCW athletic director Jimmy Bass. A former first-team All-ACC guard at N.C. State, he compiled a 256-259 overall record at UNCA, but was 158-104 in Big South action and won at least 10 league games the last six seasons. He previously served as an assistant at Georgia and N.C. State, in addition to a brief stint as head coach at Davidson. He did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone.</p><p>Peterson and Biedenbach have known each other since the mid-1980s and Biedenbach replaced Peterson on Les Robinson's staff at N.C. State in the early 1990s.</p><p>Peterson still has two openings on his staff, one assistant spot and the director of basketball operations. He leaves for the Final Four in Atlanta on Thursday, and said he plans to meet with candidates for both spots over the weekend.</p>